Top 14 Codes to Check If Your Phone is Monitored

In modern times, Smartphones have become a fundamental part of our lives. It has become necessary to meet the basic needs of our lives, including communication and online transactions. Considering the usage of mobiles and the information stored in them, it’s not wrong to say that they know the majority of secrets, which makes them the prime target of hackers. To make things worse, people aren’t aware of what to dial to see if their phone is hacked or to whom to report such data breach incidents. 

And kudos to the advancing modern surveillance technology that has made snooping into someone’s mobile quite easy. Today, there are plenty of spyware apps available on the market, which makes the job of hackers easy if they are looking for a chance to hack your device. 

According to data published by Statista, around 1802 cases of data breaches and theft were recorded in 2022, and approximately 422 million people were affected due to such data theft in the same year. In this era of digital insecurity, your phone’s security is paramount because, who knows, maybe you are in the target line of a hacker. 

If you are also concerned about your device’s security and doubt that your mobile is being tapped or tracked, carefully read the article till the end to know the code to check if your phone is hacked. 

Signs That Your Phone is Hacked

Are you noticing suspicious apps, quick battery drain, and high data consumption on your mobile? If yes, there’s a high possibility that you have become the victim of hacking. The first thing you need to do is meticulously examine your mobile and check if your call is being tapped or if your location is being tracked. Here’s how to tell if your iPhone is hacked: –

• Strange pop-ups – Watching strange pop-ups on your device, regardless of whether you use an ad-blocker, is a huge red flag that indicates your phone is under somebody’s surveillance. Such pop-ups are known as phishing, and they usually appear on your screen when you have malware running in the background of your screen. 

• Irrelevant permissions – Your mobile is guaranteed to be hacked if your apps like Camera and Torch ask for message reading and call forwarding permissions. These irrelevant permission requests point to a spyware app indirectly seeking permission to access your device. 

• Declining performance – Over time, the performance of the mobile device deteriorates, but if your device is crashing more frequently, and you open any random app, it’s a sign that some surveillance app is running in the background. Spyware apps slow down your mobile’s performance and can automatically reboot your phone while stealing your login credentials and other personal information. 

• High Data Consumption – Sudden increase in the daily data usage of your mobile is a direct indication that your phone is being tracked by someone. The tracking app and hacking software consume a lot of data in order to keep track of your activities and information. 

• Strange App Activity – A hacked device acts differently than a normal one. If you notice strange activities on your mobile, like automatically opening and closing an app, outgoing calls, texts that you didn’t send, etc., it means that your phone is being spied on. 

• Quick Battery Drainage – It’s natural for your mobile to use more battery as it gets older, but if you notice a sudden rise in the battery consumption of your mobile, you should check whether your phone is being hacked.
  

If you notice any of the signs, you should immediately dial the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code to check if a phone is hacked. In the next section, I will explain to you what to dial to see if your phone is hacked into Android.

What to Dial to See If Your Phone is Hacked?

Running the USSD code to check if your phone is monitored is one of the easiest ways to identify how many calls are recorded, messages are forwarded, and other data is transmitted to the perpetrator. So if you suspect your device is being cloned or tracked, use the below-given codes to clear your doubts and get fully assured.

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity Code, and every mobile device is labeled with a unique IMEI code. Well, generally, the IMEI code has nothing to do with the hacking, but it is a must-required thing to file a cyberattack report when your device is hacked. So it’s essential for you to know your phone’s IMEI code in order to lodge a complaint against a hacker. If you have lost your IMEI code, just dial *#06# on your dialer pad to know the IMEI code. 

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity Code, and every mobile device is labeled with a unique IMEI code. Well, generally, the IMEI code has nothing to do with the hacking, but it is a must-required thing to file a cyberattack report when your device is hacked. So it’s essential for you to know your phone’s IMEI code in order to lodge a complaint against a hacker. If you have lost your IMEI code, just dial *#06# on your dialer pad to know the IMEI code. 

If you suspect your SIM is tracked, dial *#62# to check if SIM is hacked. *#62# is a mobile tapping code that can help you know who receives your text messages and calls when your device is switched off or out of coverage area. In case this code returns a number, there’s nothing to panic about as it can be your voicemail number, but if not, immediately dial ##62# to turn off the ears of hackers from your calls. 

Dial *#004# code to check if your phone is monitored, and it will open the full list of conditional call forwarding. Simply put, after dialing this code you will be able to see who receives your messages when you lose connectivity, are busy on another call, reject a call, or don’t answer a call. If you find that your calls are forwarded, you can erase all conditional forwarding settings by dialing ##004# from your number. 

Hackers are skilled enough to redirect your unanswered incoming calls to a different line right under your nose; this is generally referred to as conditional call forwarding. By using this method, the hackers can easily redirect unattended messages and call a different number, even without coming to your notice. Use the *#61# code to check if the phone is hacked Android and the calls are redirected. In case you find your calls being forwarded to a different number, quickly type ##61# to erase the call forwarding settings effectively. 

Entering *#67# in your mobile’s dialer will show all the calls and messages forwarded to other numbers when you were on another call or rejected the call. It will open the entire record and help you know if someone is after you. In case you find your calls have been redirected to some other number, just type ##67# and inform the authorities about the data breach. 

So that you have identified the number to whom your calls are being forwarded, you need to turn off all call forwarding and place a cyberattack complaint. Enter ##002# on your phone’s dialer, and it will immediately turn off all forms of call redirection. 

Technology today has advanced to the extent that hackers can now forward all your calls and text messages, even if you are available to take those calls and messages. This is called unconditional data diversion or forwarding, and mind you, in this type of hacking, the perpetrator can access every piece of information stored in your phone. 

These activities are non-traceable because the incoming calls on your mobile will automatically redirect to another line without giving your device a chance to ring. That’s why such call forwarding is never mentioned in the calling bills. To identify if you have been a victim of unconditional data forwarding, type *#21#, and in case you find such data breaches, dial ##21# to erase these settings and, without any delay, file a cyberattack complaint.

Till now, I have talked about how to tell if your iPhone is hacked and the code to check if your SIM is hacked. But moving on, let’s see what the code is to check if your location is monitored. One can easily watch all your movements after getting mobile access. Type *#*#197328640#*#* utility net monitor code to verify whether your movements are actually traced by someone. 

iPhone and iOS devices are considered to be the safest, but it looks like hackers have also found a way to access these highly secured iOS devices. A report published by Statista says that the total global revenue of Apple in 2021 surpassed 365 billion USD, of which 40% will be generated in the USA alone. Here, you’ll be shocked to know that even after having a high percentage of iPhone users, the US reported 1802 cases of data breaches which clearly shows the safest devices aren’t safe anymore. 

To restore its title of being safe, Apple has given Field Test Mode a refreshed look with the launch of iOS 14 so that it can show a snapshot of valuable information. The Field Test Mode feature gives comprehensive information about the user’s cell phone’s signals and connection, thus allowing them to know if they are hacked. To enable the Field Test Mode, dial *3001#12345#*, and then you’ll get redirected to your connections’ data storage section.

You should constantly check the firmware details of your mobile’s camera. The firmware details of the camera include vital information like the number of cameras your device has and can tell you whether your camera is tampered with to keep an eye on you. Dial *#*#34971539#*# code to check if your phone is monitored and verify if your privacy is compromised by accessing your camera.

MAC address stands for Media Access Control Address, which helps identify the tracker when the device is connected to a network. So if you are suspicious of being monitored, rush and dial *#*#232338#*#* to check if your mobile is connected to some strange network.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing more you can do about being hacked except file a formal cyberattack complaint. If you are fully confirmed that your mobile is under somebody’s surveillance, you are only left with the option to factory reset your device. Just type  *#*#7780#*#* to factory reset your phone, and it will uninstall all irrelevant apps and delete all information, settings, software, and data stored in it. 

Bonus Tip 🖊️Apart from preventing hacking, you should also factory reset your phone before selling it. This protects your privacy and erases all your information stored in the device, apps, and Google account.

If you suspect that somebody has corrupted your device with malware or a surveillance app to spy on you, it’s best to reset your mobile device immediately. To wipe off your phone’s settings, type *2767*3855#, and it will remove and reinstall all the firmware. 

Note ✍️Always save all your important files prior to performing a hard reset, as it will help you access them later from the backup. 

The *#*#1472365#*#* code can help you know whether your mobile’s GPS is working properly or not. GPS comes in very handy when the device is lost or stolen, so it’s important to test if your GPS information is correct. Note that this code will only work when your phone’s GPS is on. 

So this is what to dial to see if your phone is hacked! Remember that the aforementioned running USSD codes are not ordinary numbers; you can enter this code to check if your phone is monitored. Advancing the discussion, let’s quickly discuss some of the tips that can help you block hackers from your phone in the subsequent section.

Tips to Prevent Hacking and Block Hackers From Your Phone

I believe that prevention is better than cure, so instead of ranting and entering code to check if phone is hacked, you just focus on preventive measures so that you don’t need to face situations like this in the future.   

Here are some tips that can help you avoid incidents like hacking and block hackers. 

1. Don’t leave your phone or other gadget unattended.
2. Keep a password on your phone.
3. Use two-factor authentication and biometrics for double security.
4. Avoid using public Wi-Fi.
5. Always keep your operating system up-to-date.
6. Consider installing security apps.

These tips will definitely help you maintain a safe distance from hackers. Even after following the aforementioned precautions, if you still get stuck in the trap of hackers, directly contact the concerned authorities and inform them of every minute detail of the incident. 

Whom To Contact In Case of a Cyberattack?

Concluding the entire discourse, I will advise you to closely observe the functioning of your phone, and if you feel anything suspicious, immediately dial the aforementioned running USSD codes and run for professional help. Now you must be thinking about whom to report about hacking and cyberattacks.

Well, the concerning authority that deals with data breaches and cyberattacks is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS has designed Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Authority (CISA) to provide assistance to potentially impacted entities in case of a cyberattack. Apart from this, if you are completely clueless about where to go, you can take help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate cyberattacks and intrusions. 

For now, that’s all about code to check if your phone is monitored. Hopefully, now you know what to dial to see if your phone is hacked and whom to contact if you ever encounter a cyberattack. Moving to the end, let’s quickly go through some frequently asked questions. 

Frequently Asked Questions